Concerns are raising concerns about missile technology transfers that could boost Pyongyang’s army and raise conflicts on the Asian Peninsula as North Korean troops are being trained in Russia for implementation to Ukraine.
Kim Yong-Hyun, the defense minister of South Korea, reportedly warned that North Korea may change Russian-made missiles for army deployment.
Around 10,000 North Vietnamese soldiers are “drawing technology and conducting some training,” according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
He claimed they may be sent to the Kursk region of Russia, where Ukraine has been a protectorate since an unexpected conquest in August.
In response to international sanctions, Pyongyang is working to strengthen its nuclear and missile arsenals in the wake of the Russia-North Korea military change. According to the Defense One statement, Russia’s potential assistance may have a significant impact on North Korea’s reliability and ability to target missiles.
According to Defense One, the US and South Korea have responded by advancing fresh assistance agreements to strengthen local surveillance, including joint military exercises and technology transfers that build on a multilateral safety framework with Japan to combat North Korea’s growing threat.
According to the report, Austin emphasized the existential threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and missile applications to the Indo-Pacific area.
In a February 2022 content in the peer-reviewed International Security book, Steve Fetter and Jaganath Sankaran show significant restrictions in the stability and targeting correctness of North Korean missiles, highlighting the difficulties the US faces in intercepting such threats.
Sankaran and Fetter mention that while capable of reaching the US, North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBMs) exhibit substantial risks due to their liquid-fueled systems, which results in longer increase aspects.
They say this makes the missiles detectable and more easily intercepted by airborne Boost-Phase Intercept ( BPI ) systems, such as Aegis-equipped destroyers. They point out that North Korea’s potential move to solid-fuel systems may reduce catch vulnerabilities, as these missiles may have shorter increase phases.
Further, they say North Korea may acquire sophisticated countermeasures from allies like China or Russia, challenging the effectiveness of the US’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense ( GMD) system.
Underscoring North Korea’s progress in developing Submarines capable of hitting the US peninsula, The War Zone reported this month that North Korea has tested its longest-ranged ICBM to day, the Hwasong-19, amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The War Zone says that the missile, launched from a massive 11-axle transporter-erector-launcher ( TEL), is a solid-fuel, multi-stage weapon capable of reaching cities across the US mainland if flown on a standard trajectory.
The document mentions that the Hwasong-19 achieved a document level of 7, 686 meters and flew for 137 meters, surpassing past North Vietnamese ICBM testing. It further states that the rocket’s architecture includes a larger-diameter system and a more sophisticated TEL than its predecessors, indicating major developments in North Korea’s missile systems.
However, despite its impressive capabilities, The War Zone poses questions about the missile’s reliability and survivability, given its size and the challenges of hiding and maneuvering such a large TEL.
Further, Oleksandr Danylyuk mentions in a July 2024 article for the Royal United Services Institute ( RUSI) that despite public concern, Russia’s support for North Korea’s missile program is not new.
According to Danylyuk, analysis of North Korean missiles launched by Russia against Ukraine, such as the KN-23, reveals significant Russian technological influence, including the use of Russian materials and design standards.
He points out that Russian and Soviet assistance has long been a source of support for North Korea’s missile and nuclear capabilities. According to Dalyuk, this is a part of Russia’s plan to destabilize areas where the US has security interests, causing the West to engage in negotiations that are advantageous to Russia.
In addition to missile technology, Victor Cha mentions in a June 2024 Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS ) think tank article that North Korea seeks advanced military technology in the form of telemetry, nuclear submarine technology, and military satellite wares in exchange for providing Russia with troops, ammunition, and ballistic missiles for its Ukraine war effort.
Given North Korea’s technological and resource constraints, Sankaran and Fetter point out that despite these potential improvements, North Korean ICBMs are still unlikely to match the accuracy and reliability of US missile defense systems.
Despite that, they claim that having such weapons increases their threat potential beyond its technical reliability due to the psychological and strategic effects of their use.
A new joint defense science and technology executive committee was formed last month, according to a report from Breaking Defense that US Defense Secretary Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Kim made the announcement during a meeting at the Pentagon.
This committee will look into Seoul’s participation in AUKUS Pillar II, with a focus on cutting-edge technologies like autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies, according to Breaking Defense.
It mentions the announcement that comes after a US-South Korea security consultative meeting attended by the respective defense ministers of both nations to improve cooperation in terms of defense and technological advancements.
Austin and Kim emphasized the need to address North Korea’s recent troop deployments in Russia while placing a top priority on expanding scientific and technological cooperation.
Russia has also been sternly warned by South Korea about its support for North Korea’s missile program. Yoon Suk Yeol, president of South Korea, reportedly warned of potential military support for Ukraine as a result of North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia last month.
This announcement was made following a summit in Seoul with Polish President Andrzej Duda, according to NPR. In the report, Yoon emphasized that South Korea would not” sit idle” in the face of such provocations, suggesting a potential shift in policy to provide offensive weapons to Ukraine.
Russia responded by advising South Korea of the immediate effects of its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in June 2024 that if South Korea decided to supply arms to Ukraine, it would face severe consequences.
According to Reuters, Putin emphasized that South Korea would suffer the most from Russia’s reaction. Putin’s remarks are mentioned in the report as evidence of the potential for a further uprising on the Korean Peninsula, as well as his mention of the possibility of providing advanced weapons to North Korea in response to Western actions.